The Physician's Role in Health Promotion — A Survey of Primary-Care Practitioners

Although evidence that people can do much to promote their own health is growing, the role of the primary-care physician in helping patients change their health behavior is still problematic. At least one study has examined what physicians do to promote their own health.1 Little is known, however, about the extent to which physicians promote the health of their patients, their success in helping patients change their behavior, or the types of training and support services physicians believe they need. This study examined the health-promotion beliefs, attitudes, and practices of a representative sample of primary-care physicians in Massachusetts.MethodsThe . . .